Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins NBA MVP Again: What This Means for the Thunder and Asian Fans

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s franchise player, has been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season.

The league announced on May 18 that Gilgeous-Alexander finished the MVP voting with 939 points, edging out Nikola Jokić for the honor.

Among a 100-member media panel, he captured 83 first-place votes, dominating the ballot while Jokić settled for second.

Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP awards.

The Canadian’s victory extends the run of non-U.S. players taking home the MVP to eight straight years, dating back to 2019.

This season he averaged 31.1 points per game, showcasing elite scoring ability. He ranked second in total points behind Luka Dončić and pushed his streak of 20-plus point games to 140 straight contests, underscoring his consistency.

Gilgeous-Alexander also stood out in late-game moments, earning the Clutch Player award for his performances in the final five minutes.

His individual success has come alongside team achievement: the Thunder advanced to the Western Conference finals and will face San Antonio beginning May 19 for a spot in the NBA Finals. Oklahoma City enters the series as the defending NBA champion.

After receiving congratulations from teammates, Gilgeous-Alexander said, “I’m lucky to compete every day with great players,” and stressed that team goals matter more than individual accolades.

Photo = AP / Yonhap Newsn